AN  ITALIAN  STUDENT  AND  SOLDIER 


*S  OTTO-TEN  ENTE  MICHELE  GRIECO 


64th  Reg’t  Infantry,  Italian  Army 


BORN  SEPTEMBER  27,  1890,  TERLIZZI,  PROVINCE  OF  BARI,  ITALY 
DIED  APRIL  22,  1918,  WITH  THE  ITALIAN  ARMY,  MACEDONIA 


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*  Sub- Lieutenant  - — 2nd  Lieutenant 


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M>Y 


By 

MRS.  FRANCES  H.  ELDREDGE 


AN  ITALIAN  STUDENT  AND  SOLDIER. 


THE  American  International  College,  Springfield,  Mass., 
furnished  its  full  quota  for  service  in  the  Great  War.  The 
majority  were  enrolled  under  the  stars  and  stripes  but 
there  were  soldiers  in  the  English,  French,  Italian,  Greek  and 
Polish  armies.  There  were  also  men  and  women  under  the 
Red  Cross  and  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  in  important  home  service 
impossible  for  people  of  one  language  and  for  those  without 
understanding  of  other  nationalities  than  their  own. 

Only  one  was  called  to  make  the  supreme  sacrifice.  This 
sketch  of  a  few  years  of  his  short  life  bears  witness  to  the  devel¬ 
opment  of  mind  and  character  under  the  influence  of  mission  and 
school,  and  may  help  to  answer  the  question,  “Are  these  worth 
while  ?” 

In  1909,  two  young  men,  Michele  Grieco  and  Carlo  Iorio, 
were  employed  as  workmen  in  the  building  of  an  aqueduct  in 
Southern  Italy.  Their  casual  acquaintance  quickly  developed 
into  a  friendship  which  was  to  increase  in  intimacy  in  the  coming 
years.  The  question  before  them,  as  before  many  others  of 
their  age,  was  military  service  or  emigration.  Iorio  decided 
first  and  came  to  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  in  March,  1910, 
where  Grieco  joined  him  in  July  of  the  same  year. 

They  were  both  anxious  to  learn  English  and  became  members 
of  an  evening  class  for  Italians  conducted  by  Paolo  S.  Abbate,  a 
former  student  in  the  American  International  College,  then  in 
charge  of  St.  Paul’s  Mission.  This  acquaintance  led  them  to 
the  religious  services  of  the  mission.  On  Easter  Sunday,  1911, 
they  took  their  stand  as  Christians  and  became  members  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Pittsfield.  Mr.  Abbate  speaks 
of  them  as  earnest,  faithful  workers. 


ATHLETIC  WINNERS  A.  I.  C.  FIELD  DAY,  1915 
Lieut.  Grieco  at  lower  right  hand  corner 


Because  of  their  eagerness  to  advance,  Mr.  Abbate  advisea 
and  encouraged  them  to  go  to  school.  Meanwhile,  they  were 
living  and  working  together,  saving  every  cent  possible,  econ¬ 
omizing  even  in  bread,  for  in  those  years  work  was  scarce.  There 
was  not  money  enough  for  both  to  start  in  the  autumn  of  1911, 
so  Grieco  encouraged  his  friend  to  enter  the  introductory  de¬ 
partment  of  the  American  International  College,  promising  to 
help  in  the  expenses  of  that  year  and  to  enter,  himself,  in  1912. 
So  he  literally  dug  his  way  into  his  school  life  in  Springfield. 

The  two  friends  were  together  there  until  the  spring  of  1916. 
Carlo  Iorio  graduated  from  the  academy  that  year,  spent  a  year 
at  Amherst  Agricultural  College  and  began  his  sophomore  year. 
However,  he  volunteered  in  November,  1917,  was  in  a  replace¬ 
ment  regiment  of  engineers  and  was  transferred  to  an  officers’ 
training  school  shortly  before  the  Armistice.  He  has  returned 
to  college,  has  worked  hard  to  support  himself  and  to  make  up 
deficiencies . 

As  Michele  Grieco  continued  his  course  in  introductory 
studies  and  in  the  academy,  no  one  would  have  selected  the 
quiet  unpretending  Italian  with  few  previous  educational  ad¬ 
vantages  as  the  future  idealistic  patriot  and  brave,  resourceful 
soldier.  Those  who  learned  to  know  him  well,  however,  can 
see  that  the  elements  of  both  were  there.  He  was  not  a  brilliant 
student,  but  he  went  steadily  forward  in  his  own  chosen  ways. 

His  teacher  in  college  preparatory  English  recalls  his  absorbed 
silence,  while  others  talked  freely  about  the  subject  matter  of 
the  lesson,  and  then  the  raising  of  his  head,  his  winsome  smile, 
some  short  remarks,  original  and  to  the  point,  always  worth 
while.  He  read  much  in  English  and  Italian,  became  more 
familiar  with  European  history  from  an  Italian  standpoint  than 
any  of  his  compatriots  in  school,  intelligently  and  fervently 
tracing  out  the  fulfillment  of  laws  of  cause  and  effect. 

5 . . . 


While  lie  worked,  thought  and  reasoned  as  a  man,  he  played 
with  boys  as  a  boy  in  such  a  way  that  he  was  often  classed  with 
those  younger  than  himself.  He  had  a  few  close  friends  to 
whom  he  was  unselfishly  loyal,  but  such  a  spirit  of  comradeship 
that  no  appeal  to  his  sympathy  was  easily  turned  aside,  even 
though  his  self-interest  was  thus  often  endangered.  He  quickly 
resented  what  he  deemed  injustice  or  dishonor  and  was  ready 
to  champion  the  injured  as  generous  impulse  dictated. 

He  remained  in  the  institution  nearly  four  years,  working  for 
his  own  maintenance,  quietly  gaining  in  knowledge  and  expe¬ 
rience  but  never  assuming  leadership.  In  the  Spring  of  1916 
his  slowly  formed  purpose  matured.  He  decided  to  give  up 
his  cherished  plans  and  to  return  to  Italy  to  enter  military 
service.  With  few  words  he  made  preparations  and  was  in 
New  York  City,  ready  to  sail  April  21.  He  was  among  the 
Italian  soldiers  who  entered  Monastir  in  November,  1916,  of 
which  he  wrote  a  graphic  account  a  few  months  later.  He 
was  made  “caporale”  in  January,  1917,  and  had  two  narrow 
escapes  from  death,  as  he  undertook  dangerous  messenger 
service.  He  also  was  in  fierce  fighting  at  the  front. 

In  April,  1917,  he  wrote  again  from  Italy  where  he  served 
in  another  regiment  in  the  Alpine  region,  in  what  he  called 
“Italia  Redenta.”  He  had  taken  a  short  officers’  course,  suc¬ 
cessfully  passed  examinations,  had  a  brief  furlough,  during 
which  he  sought  out  the  mother  of  a  much  loved  American 
International  schoolmate  who  died  in  New  York  in  1916,  returned 
to  his  own  regiment  in  Macedonia,  as  “aspirante  officiale”  and 
was  placed  in  command  of  fifty  men.  In  November,  for  a 
special  act  of  bravery,  his  name  was  proposed  as  “SottoTenente.” 
April  19,  while  instructing  his  men  behind  the  trenches  he  was 
fatally  wounded  by  the  bursting  of  a  hand  grenade  with  a 
falsified  fuse,  died  in  the  hospital  April  22,  and  was  given  a 
military  funeral  the  following  day.  . 


6 


A  survey  of  the  letters  written  during  his  last  two  years 
shows  that  most  of  their  space  was  given  to  intelligent  considera¬ 
tion  of  political  and  military  conditions  both  in  Europe  and  in 
America.  No  matter  where  he  was  or  how  hard  he  was  working, 
he  must  have  made  every  effort  possible  to  keep  in  touch  with 
current  events.  His  letters  show  wide,  careful  reading  on  these 
lines  and  his  allusions  to  historic  events,  statesmen,  and  soldiers 
and  to  the  English  literature  he  studied  in  his  academic  course, 
show  that  his  mind  was  continually  working  out  consequences 
and  comparisons.  So,  in  turn,  Mexican  problems  and  diplo¬ 
matic  correspondence  in  America  are  commented  upon  as  well 
as  movements  in  belligerent  countries.  He  welcomed  Amer¬ 
ica’s  entrance  into  the  war  and  followed  her  progress,  comparing 
her  internal  troubles  with  those  of  Italy.  He  analyzed  the  mo¬ 
tives  for  the  invasion  of  Italy  in  1917,  and  was  proud  of  the 
final  resistance  of  the  Italians,  prophesying  their  future  unity 
and  strength. 

The  following  extracts  from  his  letters,  however,  are  chosen 
to  reveal  his  personality,  his  patriotism  and  his  recognition  of 
what  America  had  done  for  him.  He  seldom  referred  to  personal 
hardships  and  then  only  incidenally  as  a  matter  of  course.  All 
his  letters  express  thoughtful  affection  for  friends  and  teachers 
and  appreciative  loyalty  to  the  American  International  College. 

Of  his  first  day  in  Italy,  in  Genoa,  May,  1916,  he  writes: 

“Let  me  tell  you  that  what  I  liked  best  was  the  beautiful 
cemetery  of  Staglieno.  I  went  to  see  the  tomb  of  that  great 
Italian  martyr,  Joseph  Mazzini.  It  seemed  that  all  the  trees  and 
stones  and  the  ground  itself  were  shouting,  ‘Take  off  your  hat 
and  kneel  down,  for  you  are  before  the  remains  of  a  great  man.’  ” 


At  Teano,  August,  1916,  waiting  for  orders,  lie  writes:  “I 
admire  your  land  of  liberty,  as  well  as  your  principles  of  democ¬ 
racy,  your  humanitarian  spirit  and  your  customs,  and  I  shall 


1 


never  forget  that  in  America  I  have  passed  the  best  days  of 
my  life.  Very  soon  I  shall  be  called  to  pay  the  tribute  due  by 
every  good  Italian  to  Italy.  If  I  lose  my  life  or  if  I  ruin  my 
future,  I  shall  never  be  sorry  while  I  do  my  duty  for  the  land 
which  God  chose  for  my  native  home.” 


Later  in  1916,  in  Macedonia  between  Lake  Doiran  and  Lake 
Doranbuk,  in  front  of  a  high  mountain  on  which  the  Bulgarians 
are  encamped,  he  writes:  “Often  in  the  quietness  of  the  night, 
observing  the  beautiful  Macedonian  sky  full  of  stars  which  send 
down  to  us  their  feeble  light,  I  dream  of  you,  of  America,  of  the 
A.  I.  C.,  of  all  the  good  teachers  I  have  known,  of  the  so  many 
friends;  and  such  dreams  stupify  me  till,  facing  the  bright  sky 
I  begin  to  sleep.  Things  come  and  go;  others  come  and  go; 
and  then  others  and  others  also  will  come  and  go;  but  a  sublime 
vision  or  a  bad  one  will  be  left  in  the  human  mind  and  that 
vision  appears  always  in  time  of  happiness  or  in  time  of  sorrow 
to  relate  the  old  happening.” 


In  February,  1917,  in  Macedonia,  he  wrote  again: 

“When  peace  comes  I  will  find  where  peace  lives  and  there  I 
shall  live.  But  it  does  not  mean  I  am  sorrv,  for  I  cannot  be 
sorry,  understanding  why  I  am  fighting.  It  snows  and  snows 
and  we  are  under  tents.  Pray  for  me  and  for  all  those  who  are 
fighting  from  both  sides.”  His  last  letter  was  written  April 
18,  1918,  the  day  before  he  received  his  fatal  wounds.  He  says: 

“If  I  had  been  an  American  citizen,  I  would  have  fought, 
if  need  be,  not  only  against  an  ally  of  Italy  but  against  Italy 
herself.  But  being  a  true  Italian  I  did  not  take  American  citi¬ 
zenship.  *  *  *  If  Italy  were  not  in  the  war  and  the  Lhiited 
States  had  been  in  the  same  condition  as  today,  I  should  have 
been  fighting  for  America  as  I  am  fighting  for  Italy.” 

With  the  news  of  his  death  was  sent  a  letter  written  at  Teano 
August,  1916,  which  was  left  with  his  sister  to  be  forwarded. 


He  says:  | 

“Let  me  tell  you  that  I  go  to  war,  glad  to  do  my  duty  for  the 
future  of  Italy  and  for  the  future  freedom  of  Europe.  I  got  this 
spirit  from  the  free  and  democratic  United  States  of  America. 
I  hate  war,  but  I  hate  more  the  autocratic  systems  of  Austria, 
Turkey  and  Germany,  and  I  am  sure  that  the  freedom  of  Europe 
would  be  lost  if  nations  like  these  should  succeed  in  the  greatest 
struggle  the  world  has  ever  seen.  May  God  free  the  world  with 
all  humanity  from  any  other  conflict  of  this  kind.  May  God 
inspire  humankind  with  those  principles  more  common  in  the 
United  States,  and  then  only  can  we  have  a  perpetual  peace 
and  the  triumph  of  the  Prince  of  Peace.  I  believe  that  Italy 
has  done  the  best  duty  for  Europe  and  for  herself,  and  that  the 
entrance  of  Italy  into  the  war  has  signalled  the  fall  of  the  Cen¬ 
tral  Empire.  That  is  why  I  gladly  go  to  war,  for  there  is  a 
great  ideal.” 

His  ideal  never  left  him.  The  gold  star  on  the  service  flag 
of  the  American  International  College  does  not  stand  for  a 
broken  life  but  for  noble  service  enlarged  and  completed. 

*  *  * 


He  has  not  been  forgotten.  The  one  gold  star  on  the  flag 
hanging  in  the  chapel  has  been  a  silent  but  not  unheeded  testi¬ 
monial  to  his  patriotism.  His  comrades  have  written  and 
spoken  of  their  love  for  him,  their  appreciation  of  his  qualities 
of  heart  and  mind.  A  Michele  Grieco  scholarship  fund,  slowly 
built  up  by  small  contributions  from  former  students  and  from 
friends,  will  be  in  use  in  the  coming  year.  It  yields  only  a  small 
sum  annually,  but  it  is  hoped  that  selection  as  a  recipient  will 
be  deemed  an  honor  exceeding  in  value  pecuniary  assistance. 


9 


There  are  young  men  to  follow  in  his  footsteps,  we  believe,  to 
whom  a  call  for  service  wherever  it  is  needed  will  not  be  made 
in  vain. 

Meanwhile  we  may  say  of  him  and  of  others  to  whom  “The 
New  Death”  was  apportioned: 

“They  shall  not  grow  old  as  we  that  remain  grow  old.  Age 
shall  not  weary  them,  nor  the  years  condemn;  at  the  going  down 
of  the  sun  and  in  the  morning  we  shall  remember  them.” 


w-vjvT1 


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